Federalist and Antifederalist
By: Halie Scoggins
What is a Federalist?
They are supporters of federalism and the constitution, they are a strong central government. Federalist wanted to divide the powers among the branches of government and also give more power to the national government.
What is a Antifederalist?
They wanted the political powers to stay among the state. Antifederalist also wanted the Legislative branch to hold more power than the Executive branch. They also wanted the Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution to protect the peoples rights.
Important Federalists?
Important Antifederalists?
They were Patrick Henry, George Mason, George Clinton, and Thomas Jefferson
Why were they different?
The Federalists were instrumental in 1787 in shaping the new US Constitution, which strengthened the national government at the expense, according to the Antifederalists, of the states and the people. The Antifederalists opposed the ratification of the US Constitution, but they never organized efficiently across all thirteen states, and so had to fight the ratification at every state convention. Their great success was in forcing the first Congress under the new Constitution to establish a bill of rights to ensure the liberties that the Antifederalists felt the Constitution violated.